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(No Model.)

G. P. BROTT.

TELEGRAPH OR OTHER POLE.

Patented Apr. 1, 1884.

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enoncn F. BRO'IT, or WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

TELEGRAPH OR OTHER POLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 295,905, dated April 1, 1884:.

(N0 model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that LGEORGE F. BROTT, of Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Telegraph or other Poles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which formpart of this specification.

This invention relates to the composition of matter for the manufacture of telegraph-poles either solid or. tubular, and masts for sailingvessels either solid or tubular, or both combined; also, railroad-ties and fence-posts. The process which I use consists in using any kind of straw or reed-grass, and either reducing the same to a pulp by any known process of making straw-paper, or only softening the straw so it can be easily compressed, and not reduce it to a pulp, except in making tubes. In either case I add to the pulp or straw sufficient tar, residuum of petroleum, or asphaltum to make it adhesive, and may add kaolin, to give the product solidity, compactness, and a smooth surface, or black pasty peat for the same purpose. This tar, asphaltum, or residuum of petroleum will prevent injury from moisture and preserve the product from deteriorating. The material thus composed I press and compress into either of the articles named by using suit able molds and machines for that purpose. To more effectually protect theproduct against the action of the heat of the sun, I may paint with red lead or with fire-proof paint, or coat it with silicate of soda and shellac or bichromate of potash and alum, whichever is the most economical. The railroad-ties and fenceposts can be made of any size or shape desired. The tie would be elastic like wood, impervious to water, and, being uniform in size, could be laid with much greater rapidity and trans ported at less expense. The telegraph-pole I make larger at the base, and either solid or tubular, or both, combined in two sections, using the solid for the lower section and enveloping suflicient of the top by the tubular section to give the pole or mast the required strength, although the base may be made hollow.

My object in this invention is to make telegraph-poles, masts for vessels, railroad-ties, and fen ce-posts cheaper and more durable than wood, uniform in size and weight, which will be easier to transport and place in position; also in this manufacture to use straw as the base. It is well known that the straw annually produced in the great grain regions of the \Vest is of but little value and in many places is burned as the easiest way to get rid of it. A telegraph-pole made of this material would not absorb water like awood pole, and thereby cause the loss of electricity, estimated as high as twenty per cent. of the fluid diverted by the wet wood pole in wet seasons.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l represents atelegraphpoleconstructed and erected according to .my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar View, but embodying a slight variation from the preceding figure. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the base portion on which the post proper is held. Fig. 4 is a detail of one of the arms for carrying the insulators. Fig. 5 represents a solid pole made of my composition.

A represents the pole, which is manufactured from a composition of tarred paper, or paper made of straw pulp, with tar or other resinous substances, which is formed into a mass and placed into a suitable forming-mold and subjected to very great pressure. Said pole is made of hollow or tubular sections, and slightly conical or tapering near the top, as shown, which top is closed over. Formed with the pole, and at suitable distances apart, are circumferential rims or flanges a, for the purpose of allowing ascent to be made when it is necessary; but instead of the pole being so formed, iron bands of decreasing size may be slipped down over the pole and answer the same purpose.

B represents a hollow base, cone, or shell, which is placed in a trench dug therefor, said shell having an enlarged base, as shown at b. This cone or shell is formed in the same way as the pole proper and of the same material. It is placed in the trench, it having been previously filled and packed with dirt to give it more weight and solidity, and about half its length left projecting above the surface of the ground, and the earth packed in the trench tightly around it. The pole is then placed over the projecting base-cone, and, as is ob-. vious, it will be firmly held in an upright position. The outer circumference of B should of course be but a small fraction less than the inner circumference of A, so that the pole will be held rigidly and steadily thereon. (See Fig. 1.) Instead of employing the base-shell, the pole maybe made in two or more sections of length, one being placed in the trench and packed and the upper section placed thereon. (See Fig. 2, which shows two sections.)

The arms 0, which hold the insulators, may consist of a cast thimble with wooden arms attached, or may be made of the same material as the pole, each arm having a hole in the center for slipping onto the pole.

In addition to the described composition of which the pole is made, I also sometimes employ a proportion of kaoline or black peaty substance, which adds to its durability and solidity.

In preparing the mixture for the molds, the straw is previously subjected to any suitable process for depriving it ol'its hard and brittle nature, to enable it to be more readily incorporatcd with the tar, residuum of petroleum, asphaltum, or resinous substances. The tar or resinous substances are previously softened slightly by heat. and'then the whole are combined in any suitableproportion and molded in to the described form. After the pole is formed, it is coated with silicate ot' potash mixed with shellac, or painted with red lead or fire-proof paint, to make it proof against heat. Ioles made of this material and thus coated will stand for years without deterioration, and the manner of putting up and taking down rendered so easy as not to require any skill in their management.

The proportions of ingredients of which I propose to form this composition may be about as follows: Say to one ton of straw or grass previously prepared I add fil'ty pounds of tar, asphaltuni, residuum of petroleum, or

other adhesive substance, fifty pounds of kaolin or black pasty peat, mixed together, and then compressed to the desired shape. These proportions may be varied as required to suit the consistencies of the articles to be made out of such composition.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. A telegraph or other pole or post made of an admixture oftarred paper or paper made of straw pulp with tar, residuum of petroleum, asphaltum, or other resinous substances, substantially asdescribed.

2. A telegraph or other pole composed of the composition herein described, and made hollow and slightly conical, and with circumferential flanges or rims thereon at suitable distances apart, also provided each with a flange at its base, substantially as described.

3. A telegraph or other pole made of the composition herein described, and made hollow and slightly conical, in combination with a hollow base-shell for supporting the same, and made of the same material, said shell formed with base b.and said pole being adapted to be erected and held thereon when the same is placed in the ground, substantially as described.

4. In telegraph or other poles, the base-sliell B, in combination with the pole A, both shell and polebcing hollow and slightly conical,aud made from an admixture of tanpaper or straw pulp with tar or resinous substances,which are placed into molds or in cylinders and subj ectcd to pressure, substantially as described.

5. In telegraph or other poles made of the composition herein described, a conical pole made of two or more sections of length, the lower section made solid, the upper hollow, and designed to be slipped partly over another when constructed and erected substantially as described.

6. A telegraph or other pole made of an admixture of tarred paper or paper made of straw pulp with resinous substances, and coated with silicate ol" potash or red lead or equivalent, substantially as described.

7. A telegraph or other pole made of an admixture of tar-paper or paper made of straw pulp with resinous substances into tapering sections designed to fit one upon the other, as described.

8. A telegraph or other pole made of tarred paper or paper made of straw pulp with resinous substances and kaolin or black peaty substances, substantially as described.

9. The composition herein described, consisting, essentially, of straw, reed-grass, or their equivalents, the straw or grass being first relieved of its silica and softened to a pli able condition, then adding tar, residuum of petroleum, kaolin, shellac, pasty peat, either in suitable quantities, then compressing the mass into suitable shapes for poles, railroadties, &e., then covering or painting the anti ele with heat and water protecting material, whereby it is preserved, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I hereunto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEO. F. BROTT. IVitn csses:

DAVID H. :MEAD, F. O. MOOLEARY.

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